episode_0115

Perhaps he had instructed them to not interfere and to immediately guide me to him if I tried to find him, because even though I was on my way to see him, no one stopped me.

And so, the president’s office was before my eyes.

When I opened the door, I saw the president, just like when I met him last time, dealing with several complicated documents.

He glanced at me, then smirked and said.

“You’ve been doing some background checks…. I didn’t expect you to come with a nun like this.”

“I’m here to settle things this time.”

“Settle things…. You’re a persistent one, aren’t you?”

“I tend to be persistent.”

Just like before, I sat down in the guest chair.

Lucy followed me and sat demurely next to me, and he finished processing a few more documents before getting up from his seat.

“I feel bad making you work so hard with your leg like that.”

“How many years do you think it’s been since I’ve been living with an artificial leg? This much isn’t even considered hard work.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Perhaps sensing something strange in my confident demeanor, the president frowned slightly and said.

“What makes you so confident?”

“If you think I’m confident, you’re mistaken. I’ve always been like this.”

“Hmm….”

“Anyway, I’ll say it again this time. I want to take Leviya with me.”

At my words, the president shrugged and said.

“I told you. If you want to take that girl, bring a reason that’s worthy of it.”

“I will explain that.”

It wasn’t me, but Lucy who stepped forward at the president’s words.

“You are a member of the hero Leon’s party, aren’t you.”

“Yes. I am a lamb of the Goddess who is participating in the hero’s journey of noble calling.”

“…What exactly are you going to explain?”

“Leviya is not someone to be wasted in a place like this. She is a Saintess candidate.”

At Lucy’s blunt words, the president stared at Lucy with a dumbfounded expression for a moment.

Then, as if mocking Lucy, the president burst out laughing.

“Hahahahahahaha!!”

“….”

“This is absurd. I certainly said to bring proof, but…. Who is a Saintess candidate now? Leviya, that girl? Hehehehehe!!!”

Well….

Even I would laugh like that.

Who would believe that a bunny girl working at a casino is actually a Saintess candidate?

“I don’t have time to indulge in such nonsense. Leave.”

“Hmm. Do you really think it’s nonsense?”

“Then you want me to believe that? A girl who doesn’t have any special lineage, who works as a lowly bunny girl at a casino, is a Saintess candidate? Even a third-rate novel wouldn’t include such a setting.”

Every word is so true that I have nothing to say.

But what can I do.

That’s the truth.

“She is a Saintess candidate.”

“Ha…. Are you still going to push that nonsense? What is it about that girl that you can’t get enough of her? Are you so attracted to her body? There are plenty of women who would offer their bodies to you!….”

Anger. And hostility. Finally, murderous intent.

It should just be a relationship between employer and employee, so why is he so angry?

I don’t really know the reason, but one thing is certain….

“You seem to care about that girl quite a bit.”

“….”

Come to think of it, I heard a story like that when I was investigating Leviya.

It seemed like the president treated Leviya well. Is this an extension of that?

But the fact is that she is needed, and it is also true that she has the power I want.

“I swear in the name of the Goddess. She has the qualifications of a Saintess candidate.”

“!”

Knowing how heavy it is for a clergyman to swear in the name of the god they believe in and follow, the president’s eyes changed.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I can swear on everything I have.”

“…I can’t believe it. Why? That girl has not even received the Goddess’s consecration. Therefore, she has the body of an ordinary human with no level…. But why….”

“The Goddess favors those who strive. That’s why even if you receive consecration and the blessing of a level, it means nothing if you don’t train yourself. But…. There are sometimes those in this world who walk a path determined not by effort, but by destiny and fate.”

Those who walk a path determined by destiny and fate.

“That’s right. Like those here who walk the path of the hero as the Goddess’s sword to punish the fragments of the demon king. And those who convey the will of the Goddess to the lower realms as the Goddess’s voice. That is what the Saintess does.”

Lucy continued to speak gently, like a mother coaxing a child.

“Just as the hero is chosen by the holy sword before receiving consecration from the church, the Saintess is also blessed by the Goddess before receiving consecration from the church. This is to ensure that the Saintess candidate walks the correct path of destiny and fate.”

The president’s expression darkened each time Lucy spoke.

“And I definitely felt that Goddess’s blessing in Leviya. Although, as you said, her path is currently a little off and that blessing has weakened…. If she goes on the right path now, the Goddess’s blessing will surely return.”

As if she had finished everything she had to say.

She closed her mouth after saying that. As if she was leaving the rest of the story to the president and me.

“Well…. You heard? The reason I said I would pay you 950 platinum coins is because, either way, that girl is an employee you hired, and she owes you money. But…, if you still don’t agree, I’ll tell Leviya the truth and take her with me.”

He still doesn’t say anything.

I can’t figure out what he’s thinking, but at least he’s not just saying no like when we first met.

“…If that girl says she’ll go on her own…, I won’t stop her either.”

“…So, you’re not thinking of ending this neatly by taking the money?”

“….”

“Okay, I get it. I get it.”

What can I do if that’s what he says.

I get up from my seat and leave the room.

Even during that time, he remained silent and just kept his head down.

* * *

“Leviya.”

“? Leon, sir?”

I saw Leviya busily moving around the casino hall.

“Do you have time?”

“Oh…. Yes, yes. I think I do. What’s wrong?”

I glanced at Lucy.

Lucy, who received my gaze, shrugged and said almost the same thing to Leviya that she had said to the casino president.

“I, I’m…. A Saintess candidate…?”

“Yes. That’s right. I can clearly feel the same Goddess’s blessing as the Saintess. You haven’t received any separate consecration, have you?”

“Yes, yes I haven’t….”

“Then it’s certain. Leviya, you are qualified to be a Saintess.”

At Lucy’s words, Leviya was naturally flustered and blushed.

A clergyman whom she thought she had no connection with at all, and among them, a Saintess candidate called the Goddess’s representative.

It’s natural to be surprised, natural to be flustered, and natural to find it hard to believe.

“Th, then…. Is the reason Leon and Abel came to find me because I’m a Saintess candidate?….”

“…I don’t know about Abel, but at least I came to find you because I need the miracle you possess. So please reconsider joining my party?”

“….”

A little hesitation.

But Leviya’s hesitation wasn’t long.

“Still…, I’m sorry.”

“…Is it because of your father?”

Leviya nodded at my question.

I hate to say this, but the fact that I can’t contact him like this means one of two things.

He’s either dead, or he abandoned her. But it’s hard to say this outright….

But Leviya seemed to realize what I wanted to say from my gaze, and said with a bitter smile.

“Ah, I know…. If I can’t find him like this…, there’s a high probability that my father is dead. But…. If he’s dead, it’s good if he’s dead. But if he’s alive…. There’s something I have to say to my father.”

“Something you have to say?….”

“Yes. My mother…, didn’t resent you.”

“!”

“Oh my….”

I was speechless at the unexpected words.

“My mother…, was worried about my father until the end. And she told me not to resent my father too much….”

“…What do you think of your father?”

“Hmm…. I think there must have been some story behind it….”

Leviya’s family was barely living on the money that Leviya’s father earned.

That suddenly stopped, and the hardships that Leviya must have gone through must have been considerable. Nevertheless, Leviya….

She doesn’t resent him.

No wonder she’s a Saintess candidate.

“…Haa.”

“I’m, I’m sorry!….”

“No. If that’s what you think….”

I can’t help it.

Just as I was about to say that, a loud voice was heard from behind.

“Leviya!!”

“President!”

“?”

The president calling for Leviya.

He approached us with a limping gait.

“I have something to tell you. Come here.”

“? Yes. I understand. Then I’m sorry, Leon, sir. Lucy, ma’am.”

She bowed her head deeply and ran off.

I stared blankly at the disappearing Leviya with the president….

“I had a fantasy of Leviya and the president overlapping bodies. President…, nooo…. Those useless heroes keep sticking around and it’s annoying….”

Thwack

“Ouch!

I slapped Lucy on the ear for spouting nonsense into my ear. Hard.

* * *

“President?….”

Leviya was wondering why the president, who usually gave instructions through other people if there was anything to convey, suddenly called for her, and followed the president into the president’s office.

“Just sit there.”

“Yes…. But what’s wrong?”

“I have something to tell you about finding your father.”

“!”

Is there finally news?

Leviya’s eyes widened and her ears perked up as she looked at the president.

“They said they found this in some labyrinth dungeon.”

“This is…, a locket?”

“Yes. Open it.”

What the president handed over was a very old and worn-looking locket pendant.

But at the same time, it also seemed to be very well maintained.

When Leviya opened the locket handed over by the president, she could see a very old picture inside.

“Ah!…. Mother….”

“Apparently the owner is dead. He died in the dungeon…, and seems to have starved to death.”

“…I see.”

Tight.

She holds the locket to her chest as if it were a precious treasure.

Leviya couldn’t help but shed tears at the fact that both of her parents had passed away.

“You heard what the hero said, right?”

“…?”

“You’re a Saintess candidate. Isn’t that a ridiculous story.”

The president turned his gaze away and looked at the wall.

Because of that, Leviya couldn’t see the president’s expression, but she could be sure of one thing.

“Are you crying?….”

“Of course I’m crying. The person I owe so much to is a Saintess candidate. I’m glad I didn’t lose that money.”

“Ah….”

“Go. If you become a Saintess…. Your parents will be proud of you too.”

The president said in a slightly sobbing voice.

“Besides, if I keep a rabbit who always causes trouble with customers, I don’t know when a big accident will happen….”

“President….”

Leviya’s gaze alternated between the president and the locket, and then, as if she had made up her mind, she nodded.

“Thank you…. For taking care of me since I first came here….”

“….”

“Th, then I’ll go quickly.”

Leviya carefully got up from her seat and bowed her head deeply, but the president who had turned his back did not see it.

Maybe it wouldn’t have changed much even if he had seen it.

“Leviya, was she your child?”

“Are you the hero?”

And after Leviya left, the hero Leon came in.

“My child…, there’s no way.”

“….”

“It’s true. I even had a blood test.”

“You can even get a blood test?….”

Leon asked back in a flustered tone, but the president nodded.

“It’s a new technology developed by the Craftia Magic Kingdom. Of course…, I’ve heard that there are many problems with it.”

“How far are those guys going to go….”

The hero muttered in a small voice, but the president didn’t hear it.

What the president could hear was a word that the hero uttered after that.

“Then I’ll take Leviya with me.”

“Go ahead. If that’s what she’s decided.”

“….”

Hearing those words, Leon turned his body and opened the door.

“Leon, sir.”

“?”

“Goldroad’s external news is quite slow. That’s why this news was delivered very slowly.”

“News? What news?”

“…It’s nothing. It would be better to experience it yourself.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

After the hero Leon had completely left.

In the room where he was completely alone, the president knelt down.

“Honey…, Leviya……. I’m sorry. I’m really…, sorry….”

* * *

“I can’t believe it…. So the person you were going to bring was a woman?”

“I told you she’s not an ordinary girl.”

“But she’s still a girl.”

“….”

I can’t say anything if you say that.

The day after Leviya decided to join the party.

We decided to leave Goldroad immediately because there was no reason to stay here any longer.

“I’m, I’m sorry….”

“Ah, no, no. Don’t pay too much attention to Seolrin’s words. Anyway, she’s a woman that young master said he needed, so there must be a reason. Nice to meet you, I’m Baekryeon.”

“I, I’m Leviya. Please take care of me.”

Seolrin is lukewarm to Leviya, but fortunately Baekryeon and Baekho were able to have a good conversation without hesitation.

“They say heroes love women…. Well, whatever…. My name is Seolrin. I’m the head of the Tang Clan.”

“H, head!…. You’re the one who leads the clan? Is it okay for me to be with such an amazing person….”

“What’s wrong with that~ Leviya is a Saintess candidate anyway~ If we just go to the Holy Kingdom, she’ll transform into a Saintess right away~”

Well….

For now, I’m glad they seem to get along well.

Leviya and I, who were talking with the women, met eyes.

“Leviya?”

“Le, Leon, sir.”

“Although I’m lacking…, please take care of me in the future.”

“…I’m the one who should be saying that.”

And so, we were finally able to bring the lucky black rabbit into the party.